instead of

Idioms  

1. Also, in lieu of; in place of; in someone's stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example, She wore a dress instead of slacks, or They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or The chairman spoke in her stead. Instead of dates from about 1200; in lieu of, which borrows lieu, meaning “place,” from French, dates from the late 1200s; in place of dates from the 1500s; and in someone's stead from the 1200s. Also see under in someone's shoes.

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Example Sentences

Amid rising energy prices, France announced it will help households and businesses switch to electric power instead of handing out short-term fuel aid.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

"It's also really handy instead of texting when I'm walking the dogs."

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote on Friday that the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve would investigate instead of the DOJ.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

"The inspiration came from systems known from atomic physics, where electrons can occupy different energy states. In photonics, a similar role is played by optical traps, which confine light instead of electrons."

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

He tried to be practical: to be a man instead of a boy.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver